Music By Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics by Charles Heart, Additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe

Based on the book by Gaston Leroux

Storyline…

This story is of a facially disfigured man, shunned for his appearance has taken to living below the Opera House in Paris. He uses the "Opera Ghost" name to extract money from the managers (to live upon) and keep people in fear so that they do not venture down and disturb him. Then a chorus girl named Christine Daae comes to the Opera, mourning still the death of her father who promised to send the Angel of Music. Erik takes on the role of this Angel to become closer to this beautiful girl with a wonderful voice, he gives Christine lessons behind a mirror in her room. When the musical begins this relationship is there and Christine has sung at her first lead role in the Opera Hannibal. Watching is a long lost friend, Raoul - a wealthy gentleman. They meet after the show, and with a surge of jealously the Phantom lures Christine to his home with his hypnotic voice. Christine wakes the next day and grabs the Phantom's mask off, surprising him. She is now his, for she has seen the Phantom's face. After pleeding with Christine for her love the Phantom releases her.

Meanwhile the managers are fed up with the "Opera Ghost's" demands, including that of replacing Carlotta with Christine. During Il Muto the Phantom demands his Box 5 and makes Carlotta croak like a toad. Christine and Raoul run to escape, thinking the roof to be safe from his eyes - how mistaken they were. On hearing Christine kiss and declare her love for Raoul, and betraying him to her lover Erik seeks revenge. This is in the form of the chanderlier crashing at Christine's feet at the end of the Show.

INTERVAL

Six months has passed and no sign of the "Opera Ghost." There is a masquerade at the Opera House, and Christine begs Raoul to keep their engagement a secret. The Phantom appears as Red Death, bringing with him an Opera (Don Juan Triumphant) to be shown. He also shows Christine she still belongs to him by snatching the necklace holding her ring, and disappears in a cloud of smoke. Raoul and the managers plan to trap the Phantom using the opera, Christine reluctantly agrees to take part.

The Phantom appears during the performance on stage, pretending to be the performer playing Don Juan, and is able to sing and touch Christine in a way never possible - and she to return the favour. But alas Christine pushes his hood back relieving to the audience who he is. The Phantom declares his love for Christine and slips on a wedding ring, but she takes his mask away again. In a fury he whisks her away back below to his home. Madame Giry shows Raoul a way down and soon confronts the Phantom and Christine, now wearing a wedding dress. Without listening to Madame Giry's warnings Raoul is caught off guard and is hung in a lasso. Only if Christine consents to stay will Raoul be released, if not Raoul would be killed.

Christine begs and pleads, finally getting cross as the Phantom raves on at her. She then suddenly kisses and hugs him, promising that he is not alone in the world. Greatly moved by such a rare act of affection the Phantom releases them and watches them depart as the mob descend for his blood. The Phantom sits on his throne and covers a black cloak over himself. Meg Giry (Christine's friend) reaches the stage and lifts off the cloak, to find nothing but the Phantom's mask.

From the OLC: Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman with Composer ALW